WORK AT HUIA DAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 137, 11 June 1926, Page 5

WORK AT HUIA DAM.

FORMATION OF TRAM TRACK. THE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS. Work in connection with the construction of the tramway track to the Huia Dam is now so far advanced that all the formation is virtually completed to the point where it is proposed to leave the work to the contractor until the actual construction of the dam. Reporting to the City Council last evening, the city engineer (Mr. W. E. Bush i said that the damage caused by the May floods was not of a very extensive nature. Plans and dralt specifications were now ready for the calling of tenders for the construction of the dam In view of the fact that from a contractor's standpoint it would be undesirable to commence this work in the winter, he suggested that ample time be given tor the receipt of tenders, and that they lie made returnable on jiugust 19, 192(3. Assuming that the counrfl would finally approve of the calling of tenders at tha next meeting on June 24, this would give eight weeks for the making up of the tenders, which should be ample. At the present time, for the convenience of tenderers, a track was being made from the site of the dam to the quarry site, and work would be continued on the tramway tunnel until the time that tenders were received. Plans and specifications had been prepared for the calling of tenders for the driving of the tunnel through the ridge dividing the Huia and Nihotupu Valleys, as it was anticipated that this work would occupy about 12 months, and the contract for this should be let imediately. Plans were in a forward state for the construction of the aqueduct section between Mackie's Rest and Titirangi. and if the council decided to call for tenders for this specifications could be prepared covering the necessary work. On the other hand, there should be no difficulty in completing this section of the work by the time that the tunnel section and the pipe line were completed, and it would be better to postpone the caEing of tenders until the work of forming and metalling the Exhibition Drive was completed. The report was referred to the Works committee.